The major themes in this James Joyce masterpiece are failure to change (paralysis) and, of course, death and “the dead”. Other themes include Irish Nationalism, cultural identity, tradition, privilege, pride, and self-discovery. Gabriel, a condescending Irish intellectual, has rejected his country’s entrenched “backward” culture and embraced cosmopolitan British ways. His wife’s reaction to a little-known Irish folk-song sung by her long-dead first love brings about an epiphany. Gabriel suddenly realizes the need to take more positive steps in his own life, and how the lives of the dead can have a major influence on the living. More…
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A Painful Case
The title of this James Joyce story could refer to both the protagonist and the poor woman he drove to alcoholism and possible suicide. James Duffy is a loner who lives an orderly, spartan life. He meets and becomes close friends with the neglected wife of a sea captain. When she hints at feelings stronger than friendship, he immediately terminates the relationship. This and the cryptic sentence he wrote afterwards about such a friendship being impossible because there must be sexual intercourse suggest repressed sexuality issues. Having lost this one chance at happiness, he regretfully resumes his former solitary life. More…
Eveline
A major theme of James Joyce’s Eveline is gender roles in early 20th century Dublin (the limited life choices available to young women from working-class families of the time). Faced with no meaningful job opportunities, they were expected to act as unpaid family help until married. Children may then bring some joy, but the rest of their lives would consist of the same inescapable drudgery and potential abuse as at home. Other themes include duty, domestic abuse and exploitation, escape vs. uncertainty and fear, guilt, and paralysis (conditioned acceptance of her lot). More…
Araby
It is tempting to think the central theme of this story by James Joyce is an adolescent boy’s infatuation with a friend’s older sister. However, the title gives it away. The main theme, brought about by the boy’s wish to impress the girl, is his obsession with visiting the Grand Oriental Fete (Araby). The story helps us vicariously re-live our own Arabies. Whether it be a relationship, work opportunity or important event, we all have experiences where something much looked forward to greatly disappoints. We know how the boy feels! We know how the boy feels! Other themes: alienation, loneliness, religion, vanity, disillusionment. More…